Absolutely, Positively

longer.”

    “Take it easy, Josh.”

    Josh paused. When he spoke again, his voice was very subdued. “There was a fire at the scene, Harry. Just like there was when Dad was killed.”

    “I'm on my way, kid.”

    “Thanks.”

    Harry put down the phone. He looked at Molly. “I'm sorry. I've got to drive to Hidden Springs tonight. Leon managed to smash up his new truck. And, being Leon, he managed to make a spectacular mess of the situation.”

    “I'll go with you,” Molly said.

    Harry was startled at his reaction to her quiet offer. He was so accustomed to dealing with Trevelyan and Stratton family crises on his own that he did not immediately recognize the sense of relief that he felt.

    Molly stood near the window of the hospital room and listened to the beeps, pings, and clicks of the machines that kept Leon Trevelyan from slipping through death's trap-door. Leon was not aware of her presence. His attention was equally divided between his pain and Harry.

    Harry was alone at Leon's bedside. A variety of Trevelyans, including Josh and Evangeline, hovered in the waiting room down the hall. The nurse had refused to allow them all into Leon's room at the same time.

    Molly had seen the way the entire family had turned toward Harry when he had walked into the hospital a short while ago. It was as if they expected him to take charge. And in some subtle but unmistakable manner, he had done just that.

    He had first conferred quietly with the doctor. Then he had announced that he wanted to talk to Leon for a few minutes. Molly had started to take a seat near Josh, but Harry had looked at her, and she had known that he wanted her to accompany him into the room.

    “Well, Leon, you nearly did it this time, didn't you?” Harry said quietly.

    “Shit. Who sent for you, Harry?” Leon's voice rasped in his throat. “I don't need you here.”

    “Believe me, there are a number of other places I'd rather be.”

    “Me, too.” Leon paused as if to gather energy. “Where's Josh?”

    “Out in the waiting room.”

    “Send him back in here, damn it.”

    “I will in a few minutes. We need to talk first.”

    “Why?”

    “I spoke to the cops,” Harry said. “They told me that you wrapped the truck around a tree. It was raining. Driving too fast in unsafe conditions, according to the report.”

    “Son-of-a-bitch,” Leon muttered. “I'm dyin', and you want to give me another one of your damned safety lectures.”

    Molly saw Harry's jaw tighten, but his expression did not alter. It remained implacable. She knew then that he had a very specific goal, and he would do whatever he had to do in order to achieve it.

    “Not a lecture,” Harry said. “I want to make a deal with you. Don't get me wrong. I think you'll probably make it through this. God knows you've made it this far.”

    “The old Trevelyan reflexes,” Leon whispered hoarsely.

    “Right. The old Trevelyan reflexes. But just in case you don't come through this time, there's something you should know.”

    Leon opened one eye and squinted up at Harry. “What's that?”

    “Don't expect me to polish your hero image with Josh after you're gone. Not unless you and I reach an understanding here.”

    “Christ, he's my grandson. He's all I've got left.”

    “I know. But I'll tell him everything, Leon, if you don't agree to my terms.”

    “Goddamned blackmailer. That's what you are.”

    “You and I have been blackmailing each other for years, Leon.”

    “Bullshit.” Leon sucked in air. “It was a rigged game. You always held the winning hand.”

    “One more deal, Leon. One more deal, and you can die a hero in Josh's eyes. Of course, he'd rather have you live, but that's up to you.”

    “Jesus H. Christ. What d'ya want from me?”

    Harry rested his arms on the raised bed rail and clasped his hands loosely together. He looked down into his uncle's haggard features. From where she stood Molly could see his eyes. They were as hard as polished amber, but she could have sworn she saw pain burning beneath the surface. He did not like what he was doing, but he was going to see it through. Josh was his first priority.

    “I'm going to send Josh back in here in a few minutes. When I do, I want you to set him free of the past.”

    “What's that supposed to mean?”

    “It means I want you to tell him that times have changed. The days of wild living and stupid risk taking are gone forever. Tell him that his father would never have wanted